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unfathered

American  
[uhn-fah-therd] / ʌnˈfɑ ðərd /

adjective

  1. having no father; fatherless.

  2. of illegitimate or unknown paternity; bastard.

  3. not ascribable to a particular author or source.

    unfathered tales.


unfathered British  
/ ʌnˈfɑːðəd /

adjective

  1. having no known father

  2. of unknown or uncertain origin

  3. archaic fatherless

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of unfathered

First recorded in 1590–1600; un- 1 + father + -ed 3

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Should she succeed, she would be a penniless unmarried female with a daughter, her child would be unfathered and base, and he,—as far as she could see,—would be beyond the reach of punishment.

From Lady Anna by Trollope, Anthony

I would compare it to those old folk-songs, unfathered but deathless, which seem to have risen out of the very heart of the people.

From The Simple Life by Hendee, Mary Louise

But he turned to his own family, then as always afterwards, with an affection stimulated by his unfathered state in England.

From The Letters of Henry James (volume I) by James, Henry

And my dear little unmothered, unfathered boy, how happy I could make him!

From Story of Waitstill Baxter by Wiggin, Kate Douglas Smith

In reality Spring Valley was out to hear the rest of the news about Aurora Lane and her unfathered boy as soon as possible.

From The Broken Gate A Novel by Hough, Emerson